(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, SEP 30 - As jubilant Austrian far-right
supporters celebrated their party's historic win in Sunday's
national elections with beers, they knew forming a government
would not be easy. "It's a real success... (but) I predict that
no matter who forms the government, we will certainly not have
one before Christmas," Erik Berglund, a 35-year-old waiter, told
AFP. Led by sharp-tongued Herbert Kickl since 2021, the
far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) had been tipped to narrowly beat
the ruling conservatives but Sunday's results -- with the party
getting around 29 percent -- were even slightly better than
expected. Like other party supporters around him in traditional
Austrian dress, Berglund credited Kickl the "most competent
leader". But he said it would now be up to the other parties to
decide if the FPOe head can become chancellor. "It will
certainly be a very, very exciting time," he added as electric
blue light -- the FPOe colour -- illuminated the restaurant in
downtown Vienna where the party was celebrating. (ANSA-AFP).
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